Private Schools Wokeness Over the Top

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

This is exactly what I’m trying to stay away from. A boy with a vulva? How did this happen to us and so quickly?!

The dumb, anti-scientific, woke mob, enabled by the self-enriching Democratic Party, made 10 times worse in bubble city DC where 95% folks vote one party and think the other one is Hitler.

This topic died a quick death at the IMF and World Bank lunch halls. Thankfully WIS isn’t taking part.

OP here. I stepped away from this thread for a bit. Do you mean Washington International School and do you mind elaborating? We are considering applying.

Yes, but it would matter where you are applying from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

See you are a true believer. You declare that gender and sexuality are distinct. I agree. A man can be gay or straight or bi but he is still biologically a man. His sexuality is variable. At most mainstream private schools you won’t get any pushback on that concept at all. You may get pushback about teaching about sexuality at all (straight or gay) to young children. But when you start saying that men (gender) can have a vulva, you lost about 80 percent of the population. You may not agree with my assessment but I hang in some pretty liberal circles and the notion they gender can be chosen is not mainstream and while I want all people to feel like they can be and do what they want, I don’t want my 9 year old told that your belief is fact. It isn’t fact. It’s your belief— no different than man was created on the 7th day.

Actually, humans were created on day 6. On the seventh day, God rested. But you do you.

Obviously I don’t believe in the creation idea either. And I do know that intersex people are born and sometimes a persons outsides don’t match their dna at birth. But that is exceedingly rare and not what the transgender concept. Transgender is just transvestites who want to be legally recognized in their preferred presentation. To me, no different than that white lady who pretended to be black and got lots of jobs at the NAACP. It’s not real and it isn’t respectful and I am not sure it is healthy to teach kids that the body evolution created somehow gets it wrong so often. And then to teach them that with the magic of man’s intervention, their feelings of awkwardness can be fixed with a series of drugs and a few elective surgeries. It’s bananas and my kids aren’t going to be subjected to that crazy when they are still prepubescent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

Why?

She isn't a serious journalist, yet people take her seriously. She is a fraud. Google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

Why?

She isn't a serious journalist, yet people take her seriously. She is a fraud. Google it.

That’s a load. She deviated from the party line and the left is trying to banish her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

See you are a true believer. You declare that gender and sexuality are distinct. I agree. A man can be gay or straight or bi but he is still biologically a man. His sexuality is variable. At most mainstream private schools you won’t get any pushback on that concept at all. You may get pushback about teaching about sexuality at all (straight or gay) to young children. But when you start saying that men (gender) can have a vulva, you lost about 80 percent of the population. You may not agree with my assessment but I hang in some pretty liberal circles and the notion they gender can be chosen is not mainstream and while I want all people to feel like they can be and do what they want, I don’t want my 9 year old told that your belief is fact. It isn’t fact. It’s your belief— no different than man was created on the 7th day.

Were you made about Max Klinger from M*A*S*H or when Tom Hanks was in a sitcom called Bosom Buddies? The "trans" thing has been around for millenia. I think a lot of younger people around the world are simply catching up to the idea of live and let live, which means people of one biological sex identifies with a different sex. Who are you to stop them? And why are you so triggered by the idea that schools want to be safe spaaces for kids as they come up through puberty and may have questions or issues that need to be addressed? If it doesn't impact you, then mind your own business, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

See you are a true believer. You declare that gender and sexuality are distinct. I agree. A man can be gay or straight or bi but he is still biologically a man. His sexuality is variable. At most mainstream private schools you won’t get any pushback on that concept at all. You may get pushback about teaching about sexuality at all (straight or gay) to young children. But when you start saying that men (gender) can have a vulva, you lost about 80 percent of the population. You may not agree with my assessment but I hang in some pretty liberal circles and the notion they gender can be chosen is not mainstream and while I want all people to feel like they can be and do what they want, I don’t want my 9 year old told that your belief is fact. It isn’t fact. It’s your belief— no different than man was created on the 7th day.

Actually, humans were created on day 6. On the seventh day, God rested. But you do you.

Obviously I don’t believe in the creation idea either. And I do know that intersex people are born and sometimes a persons outsides don’t match their dna at birth. But that is exceedingly rare and not what the transgender concept. Transgender is just transvestites who want to be legally recognized in their preferred presentation. To me, no different than that white lady who pretended to be black and got lots of jobs at the NAACP. It’s not real and it isn’t respectful and I am not sure it is healthy to teach kids that the body evolution created somehow gets it wrong so often. And then to teach them that with the magic of man’s intervention, their feelings of awkwardness can be fixed with a series of drugs and a few elective surgeries. It’s bananas and my kids aren’t going to be subjected to that crazy when they are still prepubescent.

OMG, no. You are wholly misinformed. God, the ignorance. Keep it up OP, your true colors are just shining through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

Why?

She isn't a serious journalist, yet people take her seriously. She is a fraud. Google it.

That’s a load. She deviated from the party line and the left is trying to banish her.

She was always center right. There was no left to deviate from. She is just a bad journalist and was hoisted by her own petard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

You fit in like we do, also a foreign couple who used to live in DC:

Move to Florida! The whole coast from Miami to Delray Beach is awesome, beautiful, cosmopolitan...and sane.

Plenty of great schools too around Boca Raton, both public and private.

Give it a thought

It is among the most corrupt states in the country. No thanks.

OP here. Above response wasn’t from me by the way. Florida doesn’t appeal to me because all my in laws are here lol. Plus DC has more expats and it’s easier to get flights to back home But I’m not anti Florida like the above poster. Enjoy the sunshine!

Don't worry, it was very easy to distinguish you from the corrupt poster

Just in case look up flights from Miami, you may be surprised. There are people from all over getting along very well, including Latinos and anglos and Haitians and of course Jews and many Arabs (many come from the Ontario area to spend the winters here).

Best

Yes! My cousin who lives in Canada tells me that this is a thing! Florida has its own issues but yes I agree that it is becoming more and more diverse.

Best regards to your smart cousin and come visit him/her some time

Her She's in Canada tells me that many Canadians have second homes in Florida. We are planning on visiting Miami over spring break. Kids want to go to Disney again but I'm hoping that the beach will make them forget about that lol.

Yup, we always meet tons of Canadians flying into Ft Lauderdale or Miami We have even seen several cars from over there but that's quite a feat!

Here's a suggestion: if kids are 12+ they're likely to enjoy Universal Studios more, and perhaps by April the new high-speed train line between Miami and Orlando will be ready to roll!

Have a great time

(sorry OP, won't derail the thread any longer)

OP here. Kids are too young for universal I think! Still in the Princess phase lol (shoot me please!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Sounds like you would be happy for your kids to be taught about the specific type of oppression that has affected people of your ethnicity/religion. But you chafe at having to think about any injustice that doesn't affect you personally (or a group you identify with).

Maybe think about why that is

Not really. The "People's History of the United States" talks about oppression of the various minority groups in the US. I also mentioned in a separate post that I am a big fan of Cornell West and Reverend Barbar who focus mostly on anti-black racism within the US and income inequality. Also really like James Baldwin. The problem is that you can't understand why a person who is against colonialism, racism etc. is also against this new progressive ideology. There is a huge difference between Cornell West and Kendi. The difference between the two is why I just can't stand this new DEI crap.

Honestly I don't really understand. You liked the People's History of the United States but you don't think your kids should learn about the genocide of the Native American people? You like James Baldwin but you don't think kids should learn about the legacy of slavery or that there are multiple possible gender identities? Maybe go back and re-read those

OP here. Yes the problem is you don't understand. DEI/wokism is reductive and simplistic. Cornell West and James Baldwin are actually thinkers who are more nuanced. Of course I think my kids should learn about the genocide of Native American people. Where did I say they shouldn't? Go back to the quote that I had from the article about China. I am not a fan of Huntington but the quote I put was spot on - except like I said that I don't care that much about culture but the continuous focus on specific identity categories undermines solidarity amongst different identity groups which is necessary if we want to effectuate change. Here is the quote again:

"Progressive liberal ideology seeks to downplay cultural wholes. It envisions the world in universal, globalist terms, while reducing national ­societies to collections of atomized individuals. In its advanced form as identity politics, this version of liberalism views individuals as members of intersecting identity categories—categories that are not real communities and cultures, but rather demographic abstractions such as “Asian American” and “LGBTQIA+.” The word “community” may be added to such abstractions—as in “LGBTQIA+­ ­community”—but it is empty, for none of the identity-­politics categories are concrete communities with shared cultural lives. Indeed, the pseudo-­solidarity of identity politics further atomizes the individual by undermining the legitimacy of inherited cultures. This outcome is not accidental. Progressive liberals seek to weaken the hold of larger cultural collectives by erasing them from their accounts of the social world, accounts they disseminate using their dominance in the West’s humanities and social science departments."

I read a different article that has more of a leftist, "global south" critique of what's happening but unfortunately I can't find it, so this specific quote from this article will have to do.

When you use terms like "woke" and "leftists" it is a tell. Really just find some parochial school for your kids, probably some Evangelical indocrtination is your jam. Schools like GDS and Sidwell clearly are not going to be good fits for your outlook.

OP here. Reread what I said. I said there is an article with a leftist/global south critique of wholeness/DEI culture. I loved the article because I am a leftist. Unfortunately I can’t find the article. I am a leftist. The left in America has completely disappeared and replaced by a fake “cultural left.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Sounds like you would be happy for your kids to be taught about the specific type of oppression that has affected people of your ethnicity/religion. But you chafe at having to think about any injustice that doesn't affect you personally (or a group you identify with).

Maybe think about why that is

Not really. The "People's History of the United States" talks about oppression of the various minority groups in the US. I also mentioned in a separate post that I am a big fan of Cornell West and Reverend Barbar who focus mostly on anti-black racism within the US and income inequality. Also really like James Baldwin. The problem is that you can't understand why a person who is against colonialism, racism etc. is also against this new progressive ideology. There is a huge difference between Cornell West and Kendi. The difference between the two is why I just can't stand this new DEI crap.

Honestly I don't really understand. You liked the People's History of the United States but you don't think your kids should learn about the genocide of the Native American people? You like James Baldwin but you don't think kids should learn about the legacy of slavery or that there are multiple possible gender identities? Maybe go back and re-read those

OP here. Yes the problem is you don't understand. DEI/wokism is reductive and simplistic. Cornell West and James Baldwin are actually thinkers who are more nuanced. Of course I think my kids should learn about the genocide of Native American people. Where did I say they shouldn't? Go back to the quote that I had from the article about China. I am not a fan of Huntington but the quote I put was spot on - except like I said that I don't care that much about culture but the continuous focus on specific identity categories undermines solidarity amongst different identity groups which is necessary if we want to effectuate change. Here is the quote again:

"Progressive liberal ideology seeks to downplay cultural wholes. It envisions the world in universal, globalist terms, while reducing national ­societies to collections of atomized individuals. In its advanced form as identity politics, this version of liberalism views individuals as members of intersecting identity categories—categories that are not real communities and cultures, but rather demographic abstractions such as “Asian American” and “LGBTQIA+.” The word “community” may be added to such abstractions—as in “LGBTQIA+­ ­community”—but it is empty, for none of the identity-­politics categories are concrete communities with shared cultural lives. Indeed, the pseudo-­solidarity of identity politics further atomizes the individual by undermining the legitimacy of inherited cultures. This outcome is not accidental. Progressive liberals seek to weaken the hold of larger cultural collectives by erasing them from their accounts of the social world, accounts they disseminate using their dominance in the West’s humanities and social science departments."

I read a different article that has more of a leftist, "global south" critique of what's happening but unfortunately I can't find it, so this specific quote from this article will have to do.

When you use terms like "woke" and "leftists" it is a tell. Really just find some parochial school for your kids, probably some Evangelical indocrtination is your jam. Schools like GDS and Sidwell clearly are not going to be good fits for your outlook.

OP here. I did not use the word left interchangeably in the above with "woke." What I was trying to say is that the quote above criticizes progressive ideology. I do not agree with the quote in its entirety because my critique of progressives and the DEI culture that spewed out of progressive ideology (though they aren't the same thing) comes from the left. When I said left and "global south" above, I meant that there is a better article out there that criticizes progressive liberal ideology from a leftist perspective but that I cannot find it. I am a leftist but not a leftist as the term is used in the US today. The left in the US specifically has become unrecognizable and almost not existent. They have been replaced by an people that seeks to create ever so tiny categories of identity that undermines solidarity amongst different identity groups which is necessary if we want to effectuate change.

OP again. Oops apparently I responded already previously. See above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

See you are a true believer. You declare that gender and sexuality are distinct. I agree. A man can be gay or straight or bi but he is still biologically a man. His sexuality is variable. At most mainstream private schools you won’t get any pushback on that concept at all. You may get pushback about teaching about sexuality at all (straight or gay) to young children. But when you start saying that men (gender) can have a vulva, you lost about 80 percent of the population. You may not agree with my assessment but I hang in some pretty liberal circles and the notion they gender can be chosen is not mainstream and while I want all people to feel like they can be and do what they want, I don’t want my 9 year old told that your belief is fact. It isn’t fact. It’s your belief— no different than man was created on the 7th day.

Were you made about Max Klinger from M*A*S*H or when Tom Hanks was in a sitcom called Bosom Buddies? The "trans" thing has been around for millenia. I think a lot of younger people around the world are simply catching up to the idea of live and let live, which means people of one biological sex identifies with a different sex. Who are you to stop them? And why are you so triggered by the idea that schools want to be safe spaaces for kids as they come up through puberty and may have questions or issues that need to be addressed? If it doesn't impact you, then mind your own business, right?

I was not mad about Klinger or Jack Tripper or even real gay people like Boy George or George Michael. I don’t care if my children are gay— one may be. But the idea of live and let live has been cast aside by the gender army. It’s not enough to teach my 9 year old about body parts and reproduction or how and egg becomes a baby. You also want to tell my kids that they have choices that they don’t. I mean they can also get boob jobs if they are straight girls and penis extensions if they are straight boys but no one is talking about that. I have taken medication my entire life for a disease I was born with. There are side effects. Any woman who has taken birth control knows there are side effects. Telling kids that they can change who they are or affirm who they think they are is a fiction. It is. And I don’t want you and your gender army telling my kids that they can just switch genders as if it’s turning off a light. So don’t tell me who is living and let live. Get your ideology out of schools and then we can talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is an example. My children’s private school DEI lead has set up to inclusivity groups. One related to sexual orientation and one to people of color. Which apparently only included black people. The lead staff member is black and said someone who looked like another staff member with white skin and brown eyes wouldn’t be able to join. In the name of inclusivity. My kids were really upset and said it doesn’t make sense. They were in 6th grade. The school also included discussion of gender and sexuality in the context of identity for elementary schools. And our school is moderate.

OP here. Interesting. Thanks PP and good to know. My kids are so young that we haven't been exposed to any of this yet (so my concerns are just general).

I honestly think the people who are initiating this stuff are true believers which is why I think the religion comparison is appropriate. But if you are at a moderate school with enough balance that people can speak freely, speak out. Our DEI person absolutely intended the talk about gender fluid as part of the DEI for elementary school kids until the parents got wind and freaked out. Parents felt that at the age when many kids haven’t even had basic sex ed and when many kids are just hitting puberty, adding this in was too much. The kids need to understand why their bodies are changing and what to expect and what their organs can do. That is what parents want for 5th graders. We didn’t want them literally confused but another layer of information talking about sexuality. It just isn’t necessary at such a young age. With the BIPOC club it was just super interesting to hear my kids say that how is it good for our society to start excluding people again based on race. The kids have learned about MLK and his views and this BIPOC club was directly contrary to that teaching. You can dress it up as a safe space etc but at bottom it is excluding people based on race. And that is racist. I am sure white southerners wanted blacks at the back of the bus so the white at the front could feel safe. Same same.

FYI, gender has nothing to do with sexuality. At all. If you are going to object, at least understand what you are objecting to. Maybe parents who don’t even understand the curriculum aren’t the best people to be second-guessing it. It’s like the popularly-elected Texas School Board deciding what counts as a scientific or historical fact. Unless you just want generation after generation of equally ignorant people without any intellectual advancement or progress at all, poorly-educated people shouldn’t be designing curriculum. I know you think your mom hunches are the gold standard for determining what’s developmentally appropriate at different ages, but there’s actually science on this question. And gender itself is a matter of scientific inquiry. If I asked you what makes a boy a boy, you might tell me a penis. But what about people who are born with both a or is and a vulva? Is that a boy? Or someone who is born with neither? Boy? Girl? You may say it’s a matter of chromosomes, but you’d be wrong there too. Chromosomes frequently don’t “match” genitalia. I hope you’ll take some time to read and learn about this before opining about what kids should learn at what ages. If any one manages to equip them with more basic biological information than you have demonstrated, they will be doing them a favor regardless of the context.

See you are a true believer. You declare that gender and sexuality are distinct. I agree. A man can be gay or straight or bi but he is still biologically a man. His sexuality is variable. At most mainstream private schools you won’t get any pushback on that concept at all. You may get pushback about teaching about sexuality at all (straight or gay) to young children. But when you start saying that men (gender) can have a vulva, you lost about 80 percent of the population. You may not agree with my assessment but I hang in some pretty liberal circles and the notion they gender can be chosen is not mainstream and while I want all people to feel like they can be and do what they want, I don’t want my 9 year old told that your belief is fact. It isn’t fact. It’s your belief— no different than man was created on the 7th day.

Actually, humans were created on day 6. On the seventh day, God rested. But you do you.

Obviously I don’t believe in the creation idea either. And I do know that intersex people are born and sometimes a persons outsides don’t match their dna at birth. But that is exceedingly rare and not what the transgender concept. Transgender is just transvestites who want to be legally recognized in their preferred presentation. To me, no different than that white lady who pretended to be black and got lots of jobs at the NAACP. It’s not real and it isn’t respectful and I am not sure it is healthy to teach kids that the body evolution created somehow gets it wrong so often. And then to teach them that with the magic of man’s intervention, their feelings of awkwardness can be fixed with a series of drugs and a few elective surgeries. It’s bananas and my kids aren’t going to be subjected to that crazy when they are still prepubescent.

OMG, no. You are wholly misinformed. God, the ignorance. Keep it up OP, your true colors are just shining through.

OP here. This isn’t me to be clear. Regarding sex - it’s binary but like anything in nature there is variance. Doesn’t mean the binary doesn’t exist. I’m honestly not interested in entering the crazy trans debate now since it doesn’t end and I’ll be here all night lol. But I do want to make clear that the above isn’t me simply because I didn’t write it.

[Anonymous]

And now I am pissed because you are so binary. It’s either agree with you or I’m a homophobe. I am so done with bullies like you and frankly so is everyone else. There are some things that are normal. The sun comes up and it goes down. Seasons come and go. People are born and people die. And 99.9 percent of people born have no real struggle with their gender and sexuality. Stop acting as though your outlier case of an intersex person is the discussion all kids need to have. Just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

Why?

She isn't a serious journalist, yet people take her seriously. She is a fraud. Google it.

That’s a load. She deviated from the party line and the left is trying to banish her.

She was always center right. There was no left to deviate from. She is just a bad journalist and was hoisted by her own petard.

She’ll interview people she disagrees with and let’s them speak. It’s remarkably refreshing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely shocked about people referring to a melting pot.

I am OLD and even I remember waaaay back in the 80s talking about how the US isn't a melting pot - that was an antiquated and stupid analogy. Instead, we could think of the US as a salad bowl, where every piece retains it's own unique flavors and comes together as one better whole.

I've also read through most of nine pages and have yet to understand exactly what the OP is worried about or what she considers "woke". I get she doesn't like Kendi. OK, fair enough. Reasonable people can disagree about any specific person or idea. But not sure where the lead comes from there to some larger "wokeness" she's concerned about.

If you're OLD you probably don't have K12 kids right now and have not seen the insane indoctrination going on in many DC schools.

You'd be surprised. Ask OP.

I actually have middle schoolers and high schoolers right now (yup - I was an old first time mom)
And many people have asked for examples, but haven't really gotten much.

OK, here go a few good general articles:

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-turn-liel-leibovitz

https://unherd.com/2022/11/anti-racism-attacks-my-american-dream/

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter

Using Bari Weiss for anything is discredting for any argument on any issue.

Why?

When they have no argument to present, they attack the source, wave their hands and refuse discussion. That's how you know you're getting to them.

Yup.

Typical ad hominem attack.

But they don't care because to the most vocal of them science and math are white and therefore racist and wrong.

Until they burn our schools and China takes over.